To Fumoffu or not to Fumoffu, that is the question..

[Lego]

I've been a FMP fan for a short time now, and picked up the FMP thin pack late last year. I enjoyed the show, and the dub was actually pretty good. So while The Second Raid isn't licensed and probably won't be for a while, I turned to Fumoffu. I know from the reviews and threads about it that the release by ADV had video issues. Supposed dot cral, "softness", and so on.

I have a little extra cash this month, so I was looking at scooping Vol 1-4 up. But the video issues still bother me I guess. So I figured why not ask here. Is the Fumoffu release reccomended even with the video issues? I wouldn't want to put down the money for the singles and have a corrected thin pack come along.

[tuffy]

[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
I have a little extra cash this month, so I was looking at scooping Vol 1-4 up. But the video issues still bother me I guess. So I figured why not ask here. Is the Fumoffu release reccomended even with the video issues? I wouldn't want to put down the money for the singles and have a corrected thin pack come along.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'd recommend it, despite the video issues. It's a very funny show. The issues themselves, while annoying to have, are the sort of thing I could ignore while watching it because the animation is still very bright and pleasant overall.

Besides, I think the chances of a thinpak release with a corrected transfer are very low.

[naiera]

[ QUOTE ]
Lego said:
Supposed dot cral, "softness", and so on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Those issues were definitely not merely supposed /images/graemlins/wink.gif But in any case, the series is still enjoyable.

I found that the video issues did distract me a bit from truly enjoying the show. I would buy any other english subbed release that was better, but I doubt one will ever be released. If there's a thinpak release it won't be fixed, I'm sure of that. It's just a pity that such an excellent comedy spin-off of one of the better 24 episode series out there has these issues.

[Lego]

Hmm. I actually got to watch most of it due to ADV's "Anime Network". Thanks for the input, off I go to order /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[mike.motaku]

And yet I watched and thoroughly enjoyed all of it and didn't notice anything wrong with the video quality at all. I must be one of those lesser beings those among the elite that know better look down on. Oh well. I'll survive. The hot springs episode is still dangerously funny.

[O-chan]

There are four episodes alone that make the whole series worth it:
Bonta-kun 'nuff said.
The retrieval of Chidori's notebook.
The "gay" rugby team episode.
and the final "airborn virus" episode (nothing has made me laugh harder)

O-chan

[Speedy Boris]

Yes, definitely worth it. I must admit I didn't notice the dot crawl problem the first time I watched it; it wasn't until I read about it on the internet that I noticed, so I guess you could say it's not so bad that it's blinding.

And yes, every episode in the series is classic, and a great showcase for Sousoke's military mindset totally screwing up normal events or taking things way out of hand. The hot springs episode, where he makes it a sworn mission to keep three male friends AWAY from the girls bath, complete with missiles and booby traps, is hilarious.

[JackProton]

[ QUOTE ]
mike.motaku said:
And yet I watched and thoroughly enjoyed all of it and didn't notice anything wrong with the video quality at all. I must be one of those lesser beings those among the elite that know better look down on.

[/ QUOTE ]
You're not alone. I was much too busy laughing my ass off to pay any attention to the technical qualities of the releases.

[naiera]

[ QUOTE ]
mike.motaku said:
And yet I watched and thoroughly enjoyed all of it and didn't notice anything wrong with the video quality at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

This thread really shouldn't turn to that topic too much, because it wouldn't be very productive and there really isn't much of a discussion. The video problems ARE there, so if you don't notice them, just consider yourself lucky.

[Leon_Belmont]

The problems are there. I myself didn't notice them, but it really comes down to your setup and your tolerance. I don't think it detracts from the enjoyment of the show, but if it's bugging you and you can't get over it while you're watching it, it can certainly pose a problem.

The show is top notch however. And as of now there's no import alternative with subs, let alone the dub (which actually wasn't too shabby coming from someone who had a hard time getting used to these voice actors in the original series). IOW, I believe the R4 and European release suffer the same problems, and the R3 doesn't have subs.

Your call on the purchase. I really like this series, so if it gets rereleased on any formats that take off be it a year or five years from now, I wouldn't mind picking up a rerelease should the problems be fixed. It's a good looking show and deserves to have its video viewed in top quality. But I just can't imagine not owning this show if I own any anime at all, so I had to buy it. For all we know, this may be the only version we ever get.

[naiera]

Yes, the PAL releases have the same issues, and the R3 release also suffer from a certain amount of "composite video" problems, just not as bad as the R1 release, according to Slerch666, who has the R3 release.

I wouldn't want to be without Fumoffu either. I just know I would've enjoyed the whole thing more sans video issues.

[lostnomad84]

Yes, BUY THIS SHOW! It is short, funny, and well worth every penny!

[Rhodes]

video issues has to do with the masters the jp licensor gave to folks... give inferior masters so the cheap foreign stuff wont be as likely to be re-imported back into japan... its an issue with a number of shows not just fumoffu. so i doubt a thinpak will fix this. the video issues will also be dependent on your tv setup and how much of a videophile you are to notice these things.

most of the probs folks here point out I dont even see when I watch anime.

[Leon_Belmont]

[ QUOTE ]
Rhodes said:
video issues has to do with the masters the jp licensor gave to folks... give inferior masters so the cheap foreign stuff wont be as likely to be re-imported back into japan... its an issue with a number of shows not just fumoffu. so i doubt a thinpak will fix this. the video issues will also be dependent on your tv setup and how much of a videophile you are to notice these things.

most of the probs folks here point out I dont even see when I watch anime.

[/ QUOTE ]

If that was truly their intent I fear for TSR.

[geraldr]

I love Fumoffu and highly recommend the show. It's so much fun and concentrated on what the original FMP was good at which is comedy. The rest of the original show was badly done, but Fumoffu decides that the comedy is the way to go and it really rules in that department. I just wish that the subsequent series had done the same, but yeah definitely consider this show.

[Chacranajxy]

Well there are definitely some video issues, but not enough to really keep this show from being entertaining. I really, really loved Fumoffu though so I would definitely buy it despite the problems with the video... of course, if there was a fixed release in thinpack form or something, I'd buy that in a heartbeat, but since this is probably the best we're going to get, you might as well buy it.